ITV launches leaner, fitter schedule with dramatic twists

ITV today unveiled details of a major new campaign to tackle obesity in Britain, as part of a new season of programmes dominated by big drama commissions and the return of popular shows.

The Feelgood Factor, in which the broadcaster will call on viewers to get fit, will start at the end of January.

The success of the launch, which ties in with the Government's Change4Life campaign, will then be measured - along with waistlines -in March with a follow-up show. In addition to the health campaign, the beginning of next year will see high profile dramas launch on the channel, which has suffered a major downturn in revenue and advertising this year.

This is the first full season of programmes upon which ITV's new director of television, Peter Fincham, has been able to stamp his authority.

Mr Fincham, the former BBC1 controller, joined ITV in May and pledged to bolster its drama credentials after big budget shows such as Rock Rivals, The Palace and Echo Beach failed to pull in ratings.

To reinvent the channel's drama output Mr Fincham has signed up several names who found fame in BBC dramas. They include Life On Mars actor Philip Glenister, who will play a modern-day vampire slayer in Demons, Dr Who's Freema Agyeman who is in the British remake of the successful American series Law And Order, and Martin Freeman, who found fame in The Office and will now star in comedy drama Boy Meets Girl. Julia McKenzie is taking on the role of Miss Marple while John Hurt is reprising his role as Quentin Crisp in An Englishman In New York.

Sir David Jason stars in Albert's Memorial.

ITV has also announced that Jim Caviezel and Sir Ian McKellen will star in the remake of Sixties cult series The Prisoner.

Mr Fincham is also bringing back old ITV shows, including physical and mental quiz The Krypton Factor and outtakes show It'll Be Alright On The Night, to be presented by Griff Rhys Jones. Chris Tarrant is hosting a new quiz show, the Colour Of Money, in which contestants attempt to withdraw money from specially programmed cash machines by guessing the amount they will give.

Piers Morgan returns as a judge on Britain's Got Talent as well as hosting a new "biographical" talk show and presenting documentaries looking at the rich and famous in Dubai, Los Angeles and Monaco.